Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Incarnations of Mahādeva in Kali-yuga (Vaivasvata Manvantara) and the Nakulīśa Horizon

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नमनसो दान्ता ऐश्वरीं भक्तिमाश्रिताः / क्रमेण तान् प्रवक्ष्यामि योगिनो योगवित्तमान्

Transliteration

prasannamanaso dāntā aiśvarīṃ bhaktimāśritāḥ / krameṇa tān pravakṣyāmi yogino yogavittamān

Translation

Với tâm ý an hòa, các căn được điều phục, nương tựa nơi lòng sùng kính đối với Đấng Īśvara; nay ta sẽ lần lượt, từng bước, thuật bày về các yogin ấy—những bậc hiểu biết Yoga tối thượng.

Word by Word

• प्रसन्न-मनसः: of serene minds
• प्रसन्न-मनसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: प्रसन्नं मनो येषां ते

• दान्ताः: self-controlled
• दान्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √दम्-धातुजन्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ऐश्वरीम्: divine, lordly
• ऐश्वरीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भक्तिम् इति विशेषण

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आश्रिताः: having taken refuge in / having resorted to
• आश्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः—‘आश्रित’ = having resorted to

• क्रमेण: in order, sequentially
• क्रमेण: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (instrumental used adverbially)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will declare
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• योग-वित्तमान्: the best knowers of yoga
• योग-वित्तमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: योगस्य वित्तमं (श्रेष्ठं ज्ञानम्) येषां ते—अर्थे विशेषणम् (तान्)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing (in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis typical of the Kaurma tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Yoga
• Yogins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It frames realization as Īśvara-oriented: serenity of mind and disciplined senses culminate in true Yoga-knowledge, implying that authentic self-knowledge is stabilized through devotion to the Lord who is the inner ruler of the self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes prerequisites rather than a single technique: prasannatā (mental clarity/peace), dama (sense-restraint), and aiśvarī-bhakti (devotion to Īśvara) as the progressive foundation for higher yogic understanding.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By centering Yoga in devotion to Īśvara while spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme Lord (Īśvara) is approached through integrated bhakti and yoga, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.